Automatic electric block system.



PATENTED FEB. 2'7, 1906.

a BEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR A. M. MOTT. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC BLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED mm 26, 1905.

Affair/22y WITNESSES.-

Nou 813,909. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

A. M. MOTT. v

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC BLOCK SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

ALBERT MOTT, OF HAMPTON, IOWA.

AUTCMATIC ELECTRIC BLOCK SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed June 26, 1905- Serial No. 267,160.

railroads, and is designed to indicate the presence or non-presence of atrain upon any particular portion of the railroad-track, said portionusually being termed a block.

An object of the invention is to arrange the wiring, lights, and otherapparatus to indicate by electric signals at each end of the block andalso, if desired, at stations along or contiguous to the block thepresence or absence of trains within the block.

Furthermore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel signal ofthis kind where by a switch for controlling the signal is positivelyoperated and to employ a main feedwire for the circuit in combinationwith two branch'wires, said main wire operating alternately with thebranches to complete the circuit to operate the signal, the branch wiresor lines being supplied with lights at each end of the block. Saidbranch wires may be also carried within the stations along the block andbe providedwith additional lights therein to act in conjunction with theend lights.

Finally, an object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter noted possessing advantages in oints of simplicity,efficiency, and durabi ity, proving at the same time comparativelyinexpensive to produce and maintain.

switches. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the switch box and switchoperating means. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are diagrammatic views of the circuits,illustrating the operation of the signal-lights, each view representingthe same block and showing the various courses taken by the electriccurrent when the switches are operated by the passing of the trains.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the rail of any ordinary road-bed, 2 thesupportingties therefor, and 3 the pilot of a locomotive.

Positioned at suitable distances along the rail is a series of switches4 5, the distance between the switches of the series constituting ablock. Each switch comprises in its construction a box to one side ofwhich is attached an ordinary three-way electric-light switch S, exceptthe thumb-button is removed and in its place is secured a fourcoggedwheel 9. Partially inclosing the wheel 9 is a cap 10, rotatably mountedon a shaft 8, j ournaled in a bracket 7. The rim of the cap is providedwith the ratchet or teeth 11; but said ratchet does not extend entirelyaround the cap, but approximately half-way the periphery thereof. Theteeth 11 mesh with a toothed rack 12, slidable vertically Within the boxand mounted in a guide-bar 13, secured to a wall or side of the box.Said guide bar consists of a back strip having formed near each end anarm or projection 14, provided with an opening or aperture 15, throughwhich the rack-bar passes. It is to be noticed that the rack-bar is nottoothed its entire length, but for a portion of its length between thearms 14, and the toothed portion is not of sufficient length to in anyway interfere with the bar in its movement. The upper portion of therack-bar 12 passes through an opening 16 in theto of the box and issecured at its end centra ly to a bow-spring 17.

Within the cap 10 and to the side thereof is pivoted a pawl or dog 18,which engages the teeth 11 of the wheel 9 to move the cap in onedirection, said pawl riding free thereover when the cap moves in theopposite direc tion. A spring 19 is interposed between the pawl and therim of the cap to hold said pawl normally in contact with the wheel 9.This spring may be of any preferred form but it is found best inpractice to have the peculiar shape shown in the drawings, of which nodescription is thought necessary in view of,

the distinctness of illustration. It may be stated that the end engagingthe rim is bent back upon itself to form a greater bearingsurface toincrease the tension of the spring.

The ends of the bow-spring 17 are provided with elongated slots 20,through which pass the headed bolts 21. These bolts are driven in andheld by the cross-ties 2; but attention is directed to the fact thatalthough said bolts hold the spring 17 against displacement they do notinterfere with a longitudinal movement of the spring caused by thedepression thereof, as will be hereinafter described. The bow-spring isof such size as to extend slightly above the upper surface of the rail1, and such elevation is intended to be given it as to cause the wheel 9of the switch to turn a little more than one-fourth of a revolution whenthe said spring is depressed. To have the turn slightly in excess of aone-fourth revolution assures a positive operation of the switch. Todepress the spring, suitable means are rovided on the trains passingover said rai s, and such means are preferably secured to the pilot of alocomotive. The means comprise a curved spring 22, hinged to the pilot 3at 23, the other end of the spring being fastened to the pilot by a boltpassing through a slot 25 in said spring. Carried by the spring is adepending roller 26, which is so positioned as to contact with thespring 17 to depress the same sufliciently to operate the switch.

Stationed along the road and preferably supported by poles 27 is afeed-wire 28, connected to any suitable source of electricity. This wireis of course connected to the switches 4 5. In the diagrams, a 6indicate the points of the switch in connection with the wire 28 throughwire 0 in switch 4, and

a, b, and 0 indicate corresponding parts in switch 5.

d (1 indicate the switch-blades.

e e and indicate the contact-points of switch. Points f f are connectedby the wire g, and the points 0 e are connected by the wire h. Arrangedon the wire 9 and h at both ends of the blocks are signal-lights 7c k,preferably the well-known red lamps. Although not shown in the drawings,it is the intention of the invention to have the wires g it pass throughthe stations on the blocks or to other points of vantage and to beprovided with suitable lamps to indicate to stationmasters or otherofficials the conditions of the block. The circuit is alternatelychanged by the switch from the wires 9 and hthat is to say, when a trainenters a block the switch completes a circuit through either wire 9 orwire h and when it passes off the block it breaks said current orcircuit. train following will complete a circuit through the wire otherthan the one in previous circuit, or if a train should back on the blockit would complete the circuit through the same wire. This operation isthought to be fully disclosed in the diagrammatic views of the drawings,Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7. Fig. 4: indicates the block as empty. Fig. 5indicates that a train has passed in from left, the signal showing overline h. Fig. 6 shows that a train has passed out at the right and theblock is empty, and Fig.7 shows that train has passed in from the leftand the signals showing over the line 9.

It is to be stated that the spring 17 is of sufficient tension to keepthe rack-bar 12, or plunger, as it may be termed, normally elevated.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a switch-box, a three-wayswitch on the side of said box, a cogged wheel on the switch, a coggedcap coverin said cogged wheel, said cogged cap being he d in position toallow the cap to rotate, which cap when rotated in one direction worksthe switch, and'when rotated in the other direction permits the switchto remain stationary; a spring and ratchet or cogged plunger, adjustedto operate the cap, a roller attached to a portion of the train, andadjusted to operate the spring or plunger with each passage of thetrain.

2. In a device of the character described, a switch-box, a switch withinthe box, a rotary member within the box, a spring-pressed pawl carriedby the rotary member engaging the switch, a guide-bar arrangedvertically within the box, and a plunger extending within the box heldby the guide-bar, said plunger imparting motion to the rotary member.

3. In a device of the character described, a switch-box, a switch withinthe box, a rotary member within the box, a springpressed pawl carried bythe rotary member engaging the switch, a guide-bar within the box, aerforated arm near each end of the bar, a p unger extending within thebox and through the perforations of the arms, said plunger impartingmotion to the rotary member.

4. In a block system, suitable feed and return wires, block-signals ateach end of a block, conductors for each set of signals, a switch at theend of each block for controlling the current to the conductors,comprising in its construction a smooth box, a threepoint switchthereon, a cogged wheel on the switch, a cogged cap covering said coggedwheel, said cogged cap being held in position to allow the cap torotate, which cap when rotated in one direction works the switch,

ITO

and When rotated in the other direction per In testimony whereof I affixmy signature, in the presence of two Witnesses, this 16th dav mits theswitch to remain stationary; a spring of June, 1905.

ALBERT M. MOTT.

and ratchet or cogged plunger, adjusted to operate the cap, a rollerattached to a portion of the train, and adjusted to operate theWitnesses: spring or plunger With each passage of the O. F. MYERS,

I tram. i JNo. H. HEMINGWAY.

